Seven months ago, the thought of watching a play — which has been created for the online platform, with actors logging in from various parts of the country to rehearse with each other for days — would have been unthinkable. But, as in the case of every other artform, 2020 has compelled theatrewallahs to push the boundaries. And starting this weekend, 30 young playwrights and actors from different corners of India, and even abroad, will collaborate digitally to stage 10 plays on Instagram (IG) Live till December, without ever having met each other physically. Titled The Theatre Project 2020, the virtual festival will be showcased under the banner of Bombay Theatre Company, founded by actor Raveesh Jaiswal and wife Prachi Sharma.

Jaiswal, who has juggled several roles as an actor, playwright and director, and worked with Stagecraft Theatre, Nagpur, tells us that the project came together after the pandemic halted their plan to stage a new production in April. However, the team quickly adapted to the online medium, performing some of their works such as Oedipus' Prophecy and Exiting, on IG. "Although we had the option to put up pre-recorded shows, I felt that the thrill of a real-time performance could be mirrored on IG Live," says the co-founder, adding that they attracted a decent audience every time. "At a time when viewers have an array of online content to choose from, what worked for us was our short and sweet format. Encouraged by this, we felt it was time to collaborate with budding artistes," the theatre-maker shares. And that's how The Theatre Project 2020 was born in August. "We wanted to make the best of technology which connects us with people from the world over. The aim was to offer a platform to creative thinkers, as well as build the 10-month-old group's identity."